Historical Information

Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE) was an organization created on July 7, 1966. Founded by Steve Ginsburg, the first PRIDE president, along with a group of chairmen operating numerous divisions. PRIDE's goals were twofold: to alter the relationship between the police and the gay community and to provide social events for the gay community outside of the bar scene. The exclusively male group had a legal division, headed by Mike Kinghorn; a citizenship division, headed by Tony Penter; a social division, headed by Jerry Kass; a community services division, headed by Jim Kepner; a special activities division, headed by Don Felton; and a publications division, headed by Bill Rand. During the first year of operation PRIDE conducted meetings, social dances, a legal defense fund, a bridge club, a bowling team, a hiking club, and a discussion group. PRIDE created a pocket lawyer booklet and a newsletter that would become the Los Angeles Advocate. PRIDE was key in organizing the first gay demonstration against police brutality with other local groups at the Black Cat bar in the Silver Lake neighborhood. After the first year Ginsburg resigned and the president position was eventually given to Jerry Joachim. There's a lack of documentation from the second year. Due to internal conflicts the group officially disbanded exactly 2 years after their creation on July 7, 1968.

Sources:

1.1, Accomplishments and a look at the future, Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE) records, Coll2013.077, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Collection processed by Danielle Perez-Granado, August 2013.

Scope and Contents

This collection includes articles of incorporation, by-laws, reports, proposals, minutes, meeting notices, photographs, event flyers and tickets, membership flyers, correspondence, and organizational documentation related to the Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE) organization. Organized in 1966 and operating for two years, PRIDE was a male organization with the goals of altering the relationship between the police and the gay community as well as providing social events for gay men outside of bars.